Clasp for watch bracelets or the like



SeP- 24, 1946- Y L. E. vALcouRT 2,408,279

CLAS? FOR WATCH-BRACELET 0R THE LIKE Filed Jan. I5, 1944 Patented Sept.24, 1946 CLASP FOR WATCHBRACELETS OR THE LIKE Louis E. Valcourt, EastProvidence, R. I., assignor to Kestenman Bros. Mfg. Co., Providence, R.I., a corporation of Rhode Island 7 Application January 3, 1944, SerialNo. 516,765

8 Claims.

This invention relates t0 buckles, clasps and similar connectors forwatch-bracelets and the like and particularly to improvements in devicesof the type comprising means for automatically adjusting the length ofthe strap, band or bracelet to yieldingly engage the wrist of thewearer.

One object of the invention is to provide an extensible fastening deviceof the type indicated which, after the latter has been placed upon thewrist, may be folded and clasped in closed relationship to yieldinglydrawk the strap or lband snugly about the wrist.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fastening device of thetype indicated comprising a plurality of hinged sections adapted to befolded in overlying nested relationship to contract the band or braceletand a resiliently-operated extension element slidable in one of thehinged sections for drawing the bracelet snugly about the wrist of thewearer.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fastening device of thetype indicated having means for securely latching the foldable sectionsin closed relationship and means operable by the slidable extensionelement when the latter is moved to extreme extended relationship forreleasing the latching means to permit uncla'sping of the device.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a fastening device ofthe ing element slidably arranged in one of the foldable-sections andmeans on the slidable extension element for sliding the latching elementin type indicated, a latchlarged scale to more clearly illustrate themechanical elements within the clasp;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the clasping device taken online 3-3 of Fig. 2 and showing the parts in clasped relationship and theresiliently-operated extension member in contracted position;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the extension member asextended or slid outwardly to expand the length of the bracelet;

. Fig. 5 is a part-sectional view Isimilar to Figs. 3 and 4 indicatingthe manner in which the latching element is slid longitudinally by theextension `member to unlock the parts of the fastening device andindicating in dashlines the manner of unfolding the sections of thedevice;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional View of the folded fastening devicetaken on line 6-6 of Fig. 2 and showing the latching element inengagement with the top or cover member of the device to lock thefoldable sections in lclosed relationship;

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 6 taken on line 1--1 of Fig. 2 andillustrating the opening in the cover member through which the latchingele- Vment is withdrawn to unlock the foldable members or sections;

Fig. 8 isa view similar to Fig. 7 showing the parts of the fasteningdevice as partly unfolded; Fig. 9 is a perspective View of the base orbottom member of the clasp showing the resilientlyoperated extensionmemberl and the latching element as slidably mounted therein;

one direction to engage it Vwith means on an- Y other of the foldablesections to latch the several sections in closed relationship and in theopposite direction to disengage the latching element to permitthesections to be unfolded.`

Another object of the invention is to provide in a fastening device ofthe ing means which act to positively lock the foldable sections inclosed relationship whereby to guard against accidental or unwarrantedrelease of the clasp and loss of the bracelet from the wrist of thewearer.

Further objects 0f the invention are set forthin the followingspecincation which describes a preferred form of construction of thedevice, by way of example, as illustrated by the accompanying drawing.In the drawing:

Fig.-l is a plan view showing the parts of a bracelet chain or linkagehaving its ends fastened together by the present improved eXtensibleclasp `or connector;

type indicated, ,latch-rv Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 shown inen- 55 use Vwith the parts 3 and 4 of a loverlying nested relationship,

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the intermediate member of thefastening device shown in inverted position ;V and y Fig. 11 isaperspective view of the cover or top member vof the fasteningdevice-shown in inverted position.

The present improved eXtensible clasp or fastening device 2 is shown inFig. 1 as applied to bracelet composed of articulated links but in othercases it may be employed with fabric or leather cords. The clasp maycomprise, in general, three cooperating foldable extension members,namely, a base member 5, an intermediate or connecting member 6 and atop member or cover 'l with the several members hinged together to adaptthem to be folded into and a resilientlyoperated extension member 8yslidable in the b-ase member for permitting limited expansion orcontraction in the length of the-bracelet after the parts of the clasphave been folded into closed relationship. The various members of thedevice may be `constructed as stampings struck up 3 from sheet-metalstock and curved to conform to the contour of the wrist of the wearer.

The base member or section 5, see Fig. 9, is of trough-shape asconstituted by a bottom plate Il] having side walls Il folded upwardlytherefrom, see also Fig. 7. At one end of the member,I 5 the side wallsIl are apertured, as shown at l2 in Fig. 9, for a purpose to beexplained hereinafter, and at the opposite end of the member the bottomwall I8 is extended in an ear I4, see Fig. 4, which is bent upwardlyduring the assembly of the parts to provide an abutment for a spring 36to be described later. The side walls II are further provided withelongated slots or openings I5 used for a purpose to be explained.

The intermediate orv connecting member shown in detail in Fig. 10, mayconsist of a metal strip having an embossed central portion orlongitudinal rib for reinforcing or strengthening the structure andprovided with laterallyprojecting lugs I'I and I8 at its opposite ends.The lugs I 'I are adapted to be received in the apertures I2 in the sidewalls of the base member 5 whereby to pivot the connecting member 6 tothe base.

The top member or cover 'I is of channelshape as constituted by a topplate 28 and side walls 2i folded downwardly therefrom. The side walls2l are folded inwardly at the bottom to provide oppo-site detent-angesor ledges 22, see Figs. 6 and 1l, which extend throughout substantiallythe entire length of the cover' l. At one point the lower ends of theside walls 2| and the flanges 22 are cut away to provide relativelynarrow openings or slots 25, see Figs. 5, 7, 8 and 11. The slots 25 arelocated near one end of the cover member 'I and at this end the sidewalls 2| have apertures 23, as shown in Fig. l1, adapted to receive thelugs I 8 of the intermediate member 6 to pivotally connect the latter tothe cover. At the opposite end of the member l the top wall 25 extendsbeyond the side walls 2| and is curled around to provide a loop 21 forconnection with the crossbar of the end link of the bracelet-section 5,see Fig. 3. The top wall 25 of the cover member l may be embossed alongits center to provide a longitudinallyextending rib-portion thus forminga recess 28 in the under side thereof into which the similar ribbedportion of the intermediate member 6 may overlying relationship as shownin Fig. 6.

With the bottom member 5 and cover member I hingedly connected by meansof the intermediate member 6, the parts are adapted to be folded, oneover another, in nested relationship and to be unfolded in the mannerindicated by the dash-lines in Fig'. 5 to extend the .length of theclasp and permit expansion in the total length of the bracelet to whichit is applied.

To provide for further expansion in the length of the clasp 2 to adaptthe watch-bracelet to be removed conveniently over the hand of thewearer, the slidable extension member 8 is employed. The extensionmember 8 is of inverted trough-shape as constituted by a top wall 30 andside walls 3| folded downwardly therefrom, see Figs. 3 and '7. At oneend of the member 8 its top wall is extended in an ear -which is curledaround to'form a loop 32, see Fig. 9, for receiving the crossbar of theend link of the bracelet-section 4. At the opposite end of the member 8its top wall 3|] is extended in a tab 33 which is bent downwardly asshown in Figs.

.nest when the sections 'I and 5 are folded intol 3, 4 and 9 to providean abutment. The top wall 38 is further provided With a pair of spacedupwardly-projecting protuberances or teats 34 and 35 formed by indentingthe metal from the under side thereof. The extension member 8 isslidably mounted between the side walls of the base member -5 andadapted to be contracted longitudinally into the base by means of thehelical spring 36, previously mentioned, which is pocketed within themember. One end of the spring 36 bears against the xed abutment i4 onthe base member 5 while its opposite end engages the depending abutment33 of the slidable extension member 8.

The extension member 8 is held in place in the 4base-member 5 with thelower end of its side walls 3| resting upon the bottom wall I0 of thebase and its side walls spaced slightly from the side walls thereof bymeans of a latching element 4S. As shown in Fig. 8, the latching elementconsists of a strip of sheet-metal folded into inverted U-shape toprovide al top wall 4I spanning the top Wall 35 of the extension member8 and side flanges 42 folded downwardly and straddling the side walls 3|of the latter. The lower ends of the flanges 42 are bent outwardly toprovide laterally-extending latching fingers 45 projecting through thelongitudinal openings I5 in the side walls Il of the base member 5 andslightly therebeyond, see Figs. 6, 8 and 9. The latching element 45 isadapted to be slid longitudinally of the base member 5 with its latchingfingers I45 riding in the slots I5 thereof.

In assembling the extension member 87 spring 55 and latching element 48in the base member 5 the extension member first mai7 be slid into thebase and the latching element placed thereover between the lugs 34 and35. The latching ngers 45 of the element 4U may be inserted through theslots I5 of the base 5 by springing its side walls II outwardly. Withthe extension member 8 and latching element 48 thus mounted in the basemember 5 the spring 36 next is assembled in place by inserting it intothe extension member, compressing it slightly and thereafter bending theear or abutment I4 upwardly from the bottom wall I8 of the base member.With the spring 38 thusl compressed between the abutment I4 of the base5 and the abutment 33 of the extension member 8, it will act normally toslide the extension member inwardly to contract the length of thebracelet. As the extension member 8 approaches its innermost positionunder the action of the spring 36, the protuberances 35 thereon willengage the edge of the latching element 48 to slide the latter inwardly.When the extension member 8 is withdrawn from the base member 5 inapproaching the furthest extent of its outward movement its protuberance34 will engage against the opposite edge of the latching element 49 towithdraw the latter with its latchingngers 45 sliding in the slots I5 ofthe base, the purpose of this arrangement and cooperation of theelements being explained hereinafter.

In applying` the bracelet to or removing it from the wrist the presentimproved clasp operates in the manner as next explained. The bracelet isplaced on the wrist by passing it over the hand while the severalfoldable sections 5, 6 and 'I of the clasp 2 are in extendedrelationship. Thereafter the parts 5, 6 and 'I are folded into overlyingrelationship in the manner indicated partly by dash-lines in Fig. 5 andthe parts 6 and 'I nested within the cover member 1. It will be vwillalso be permitted vfrom the wrist Vsion of the spring 36.

site'or directly lthe cover member 1 j the manner indicated by thedash-lines inFig. 5,

noted by reference to Figs. 3,-6 'and "7 `that the intermediate memberts within the longitudinal recess 28 in the under side of thecover'member 1 and is spaced above the base-member thelatterl in the positionshown inl-Figs. -2 and- 3 with its fingers 45 abutting,k the left-handend of the slots I5 in the side walls Il ofthe base member 5. As thebase member 5 Yand-'intermediate member 5 are nested within the covermember 1 the laterally-projecting latching fingers`45 of the element 40will be caused to ride upwardly across the edges yof the datent-flangesor ledges 22 and finally snap-into position thereabove, see Fig. 6.v Asthelatching lingers-45 ride across the flanges 22 theside Walls 2| ofthe cover member 1 will yield or spring outwardly slightly to permitsuch action. The latching ngers 45 thus will be engaged with thedetentilanges or ledges 22 and because of the fact that the fingersextend through the slots or openings I5 in the side Walls Il of the basemember 5 the sections 5 and 1 of the device will-be securely latched orlocked together tok preventa'ccidental unfolding of the clasp members.

As the several sections 5, 6 and 1 are folded into overlying nestedrelationship the bracelet sections 3 and 4 will be drawn together tocontract the length of the bracelet to adapt it to fit snugly about thewrist of the wearer. If the bracelet encircles the wrist too tightly theextension member 8 will be automatically withdrawn slightly from Ythebase Vmember 5 against the tension ofthe spring 36 to expandthe lengthof the. bracelet and effect a more comfortable fit thereof on therwrist.The'extension member 8 lto slide .back and forth in th'e base member todifferent positions as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4 to automaticallycompensate kfor expansion and contraction of the wrist when the latter'is bent or. flexed. During this slight longitudinal movement ofthe-extension :member 8 in either direction the latching element, beingconstructed as a separatefpart from and having no direct connection withthe extension member, will remain in the position in which it wasinitially located, due to friction Abetween its fingers 45 and thedetent-flanges 22,

so as to effectively maintain the sections of the fastening device inclosed relationship.

To open the clasp 2 to remove thebracelet the end of the extensionmember 8 is withdrawn manually from the base member 5 to the positionshown in Fig. 5 against the tenl As the extension member 8 approachesthe furthest extent of its outward sliding movement'its protuberance3'4will engage the innerr edge ofthe latching element 4U to slide thelatter to the position shown in Fig. 5, whereupon itsv lingers v45 willbe located oppoabove the openings in the cover With the parts in thisrelationship member 1.

may be swungk upwardly, in

tov unfold thev sections of the clasp. It will be understood that as thecovermember 1 is lifted.V

the projecting ends of the latching fingers 45 will ride through theopenings 25, see Fig. 8, to permit such unfolding of the parts of theclasp. -With the sections 5, 6 vand 1 unfolded and extended in alinedrelationship the extension member 8 may be released and the spring 36,acting between the fixed abutment I4 on the base member y5 and theabutment ear 33 on the extension member, will again slide the latterinto the base member. Unfolding of the sections 5, 6 and 1 of the claspz-extends the length' ofv the clasp and expands the total length of thebracelet relationship the latching element 40 is positionedtoward theleft asV Viewed in Fig. 3 to cause its fingers-45 to snap across andoverlap the detentflanges 22. However, if desired, the extension member8 may be held in its extended position as shown in Fig. 5` during theclosing of the parts of the clasp so that the latching fingers 45-wil1pass through the openings 25 in the side walls 2l of the cover member 1.Thereafter, the extension member may be slid manually into the basemember 5to cause its protuberance 35 to engage the latching element 40and slide the latter from the position shown in Fig. 5 to thatillustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 with the fingers 45 riding in the slots l5of the base member. Thus, the latching element is positioned to locateits latching fingers 45 above the detent-flanges or ledges 22 totherevby lock the parts of the clasp in closed relationship.

It vlnll be observed from the foregoing specification that the presentinvention provides an extensible fastening device for wrist-watch brace-`lets and the like having a novel form of interlocking detents forretaining the articulated sections in nested relationship. It will beobserved further kthat the invention provides al fastening device havinga resiliently-operated slidable extension member for automaticallydrawing the bracelet snugly around the wrist of the wearer; and aseparate latching element slidable in the clasp and operated by theextension member when the latter is slid to its furthest extent ofexpansion to'unclasp the device. It will be observed further that theseparate slidable'latching element is frictionally held in latchingposition without the assistance of a spring or other means. Thisprovides that the spring for operating the slidable extension member maybe constructed of relatively light wire with a maximum number ofconvolutions to permit freer expansion of the bracelet within certainlimits. This feature constitutes an improvement 'over V'devices of otherconstruction wherein the latching lingers, are formed integral with theslidableextension member, thus requiring a relatively strong 'extensionandv contraction of said member.y

While the improved device is herein illustrated and ,described asembodied in a preferred form of construction, it is to bte-understoodthat modi- 7 oations may be made in the structure and arrangement of itsparts without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

l. A clasp or connector for wrist-watch bracelets and the likecomprising a plurality of sections hinged together to fold into nestedrelationship, an extension member slidable in one of said sections,resilient means for normally maintaining said extension member incontracted relationship, latching means on one of said sections, amovable latching element on another section engageable with saidlatching means to lock the several sections in folded relationship,means on the extension member operative on the latching element toengage it with the latching means when the extension member iscontracted within the section in which it is mounted, and other means onthe extension member operative on the latching element to release itfrom the latching means when the extension member is extended to thelimit of its outward sliding movement.

2. A clasp or connector for wrist-watch bracelets and the likecomprising a plurality of articulated sections foldable into overlyingnested relationship, an extension member slidable in one of saidsections for expanding and contracting the length of the bracelet,resilient means for resisting the outward sliding movement of theextension member, longitudinallyextending latching means on one of thesections, a latching element slidable in another section and engageablewith the latching means on the rst-named section to lock the sections innested relationship, means on the slidable extension member foroperating the latching element to engage it with the latching means whensaid eX- tension member is slid into contracted relationship in thefirst-named section, and means on the slidable extension memberengageable with the latching element as said extension member approachesthe limit of its outward sliding movement to slide the latching elementand disengage it from the latching means to unlock the ioldablesections.

3. A clasp or connector for wrist-watch bracelets and the likecomprising a plurality of articulated sections foldable into overlyingnested relationship, a longitudinally-extending latching ledge on one ofsaid sections, an extension member slidable in another of said sectionsto expand the bracelet, resilient means for resisting the slidingmovement of the extension member, a latching element slidable in saidlast-named section and engageable with the latching ledge for lockingthe several sections in closed relationship, means on the extensionmember engageable with the latching element when said extension memberis slid into contracted relationship to move the latching element in onedirection to cause it to engage the latching ledge and means on theextensionmember engageable with the latching element when the extensionmember is slid into extended relationship whereby to move the latchingelement to disengage it from the latching ledge.

4. A clasp or connector for wrist-watch bracelets comprising a basemember, an intermediate member and a cover member, said members beinghingedly connected to adapt them to be folded into overlying nestedrelationship, an extension member slidable in the base member, resilientmeans for contracting the extension member within the base member whilepermitting it to be extended therefrom, a latching ledge on the covermember, a latching element slidable Vin the base member and providedwith means engageable with the latching ledge to lock the foldablemembers in closed relationship, means on` the extension memberengageable with the latching element when said extension member iscontracted into the base member to move the latching element in onedirection to engage it with the latching ledge and means on theextension member vfor engaging the latching element when said extensionmember is extended from the base member to move said latching element inthe oppositel direction to release said latching element from the ledgeto unlock the clasp members to permit them to be unfolded.

l5. A clasp or connector for wrist-watch bracelets comprising a basemember, an intermediate member and a cover member, said members beingpivotally connected to adapt them to be folded into overlying nestedrelationship, longitudinallyextending latching ledges on the covermember, longitudinally-extending slots in the base member, a latchingelement provided with ngers slidable in the slots in the base member, anextension member slidable Iin 1 the base member, resilient means actingbetween the base member and extension member to normally retract thelatter into the clasp to contract the length of the bracelet whilepermitting it to be withdrawn to expand the length thereof, and spacedprotuberances on the extension member, one of said protuberances beingengageable with the latching element when said extension member is slidinto the base member whereby to move the latching element in onedirection to engage its ngers with the latching ledges to lock thefoldable members in closed relationship and the other protuberance beingengageable with the latching element when lets comprising a base member,an intermediate said extension member is extended from the base memberto move said latching element in the opposite direction to release thefingers from the ledges to permit the members to be unfolded.

6. A clasp or connector for wrist-watch bracelets comprising a basemember, Vari intermediate member and a cover member, said members beingpivotally connected to adapt them to be folded into overlying nestedrelationship, longitudinallyextending latching ledges on the covermember, longitudinally-extending slots in the base member, an extensionmember slidable in the base member and provided with spaced projections,resilient means acting between the base member and extension member fornormally sliding the latter into the base member to contract the lengthof the bracelet while permitting it to be extended to expand the lengththereof, and a latching element spanning the extension member betweentheprojections thereon and provided with latching fingers slidable inthe slots in the base member, one of said projections engaging thelatching element to slide it in a direction to carry its ngers intolocking engagement with the latching ledges as the extension member isslid into the base member and the other ofvsaid projections beingengageable with the latching element as the extension member is movedoutwardly to the limit of its slidingmovement to slide said latchingelement to release its lingers from locking engagement with the ledgesto unlock the clasp members and permit them to be unfolded.V y Y '77. Aclasp or connector for wrist-watch bracemember, a cover member,saidmembers being hingedly-connected to adapt them tofbe folded intooverlying nested relationship, an extension `m Ymber slidableinthejbasemember and provided with longitudinally-spaced projections,resilient means acting between the base member and extension member forurging the latter into the clasp to contract the length of the'braceletwhile permitting it to be withdrawn therefrom to expand the lengththereof, longitudinally-extending latching ledges on the cover memberprovided with openings, longitudinally-extending slots in the basemember, and a, latching element extending transversely of the extensionmember between the projections thereon and provided with latchingiingers slidable in the slots in the base member, one of the projectionsof the extension member being engageable with the latching element toslide the latter to engage its latchng iingers with the ledges of thecover member to look the foldable members in closed relationship and theother of said projections being engageable with the latching element toslide'the latter as the extension member is Withdrawn to the limit ofits outward sliding movement to position the lingers opposite theopenings in the ledges of the cover member whereby to permit them to bewithdrawn therethrough to unlatch the foldable members.

8. A clasp or connector for wrist-watch bracelets comprising a basemember, an intermediate member and a cover member, said members beingpivotally connected to adapt them to be folded into overlyingrelationship, longitudinally-exy tending slots in the base member,longitudinallythereof and provided extending latching ledges on thecover member, an extension member slidable in the base member and formedwith longitudinally-spaced upstanding protuberances, resilient meansacting between the base member and extension member for normally.sliding the latter into the base member to contract the length of thebracelet and yieldable to permit the extension member to be extended toexpand the length thereof, and a latching element extending transverselyof the extension member between the protuberances with latching fingersslidable in the slots in the base member, said latching element being oflesser width than the space between the protuberances whereby to permitrelative sliding movement between the extension member and latchingelement, one of said protuberances being engageable with the latchingelement as the extension member is slid into contracted relationship tocarry the latching fingers into locking engagement with the latchingledges and the other protuberance being engageable with the latchingelement as the extension member approaches the limit of its outwardsliding movement to withdraw the ngers from the ledges to unlock theseveral clasp members whereby to permit the members to be unfolded.

LOUIS E. VALCOURTI.

